Two Teens Wounded in Shooting Outside Minnesota Homecoming Game as Police Investigate Gang-Related Violence

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — A homecoming football game in a Minneapolis suburb erupted into chaos Friday night after gunfire outside the stadium wounded two teenagers and sent hundreds of students, parents and spectators rushing for safety.

The shooting happened at about 8:40 p.m. in a parking lot near Eden Prairie High School’s Aerie Stadium, where the Eagles were playing Minnetonka High School.

Police said a large altercation had broken out on the west side of the stadium shortly before officers responded to reports of gunfire in the parking lot. Several people were removed from the stadium grounds as officers attempted to break up the fight.

Two Teenagers Were Injured

The victims were identified by police only as an 18-year-old male and a 17-year-old male, both from St. Paul.

Authorities said both victims are of Somali descent and are known to law enforcement. Neither was a student at Eden Prairie High School or Minnetonka High School.

The 18-year-old was released from Hennepin Healthcare on Saturday. The 17-year-old remained hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening.

Police initially described the shooting as targeted and later said their investigation indicated that it was gang-related.

A law enforcement source told FOX 9 that local Somali gangs were connected to the shooting. However, investigators have not publicly identified specific suspects or announced any arrests.

Stadium Evacuated as Families Ran for Safety

The shooting occurred while the homecoming game was underway, triggering an evacuation of the stadium.

Witnesses described spectators climbing fences and rushing toward exits as the situation unfolded.

Play-by-play announcer Wally Langfellow, who was inside the press box, said he had never witnessed anything similar during more than three decades covering high school football.

Students and families were directed to a reunification area at nearby Round Lake Park while police secured the scene.

The school’s parking lot remained restricted as investigators processed the area, leaving some spectators unable to retrieve their vehicles until the following morning.

No Arrests Announced

As of the latest police updates, investigators had not released specific information about a suspect.

Eden Prairie police said they were pursuing multiple leads and working with regional law enforcement agencies, but did not yet have enough specific information to publicly identify a suspect.

The investigation remains active.

The football game was interrupted by the shooting and was later scheduled to resume after the emergency response and investigation.

Homecoming Dance Canceled

The violence also forced the school to cancel its scheduled homecoming dance the following evening.

Principal Dr. Jaysen Anderson said holding a celebration less than 24 hours after the shooting did not feel appropriate given the impact on students, families and staff.

School officials said classes were expected to continue Monday with additional support available for students and staff affected by the incident.

For a night that was supposed to celebrate school spirit, the shooting instead left a community confronting questions about safety, violence and what happened outside the stadium.

Police have not announced arrests, and investigators continue to work to determine exactly who was responsible for the gunfire.